Shreveport - Bossier, Louisiana's Other Side

Upwards of 300 delegates expected; Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne to present annual keynote

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – The 2012 Louisiana Tourism Industry Summit, an annual conference organized by the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association (LTPA), will take place, Jan. 24-26, at the Shreveport Convention Center. Over 300 delegates from throughout Louisiana are expected to attend. Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne will speak at the annual “Breakfast with the Lieutenant Governor” session at 8 a.m. on Wed., Jan. 25. Throughout the conference, delegates will network with fellow tourism industry professionals, attend educational break-out sessions, and learn about emerging travel industry trends. The Louisiana Tourism Industry Summit was last held in Shreveport-Bossier in 2005.

During the conference, delegates will also participate in familiarization tours of Shreveport-Bossier, becoming acquainted with our area’s offerings. Four themed tours organized by the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau will acquaint delegates with Shreveport-Bossier’s thriving film industry, unique local eateries, haunted places, and popular shopping destinations. Each tour will have 25-50 participants.

“While you can measure its immediate economic impact in dollars, the on-going impact of Summit is immeasurable,” said Kim Brice, vice president of convention marketing for the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau. “There is no better opportunity for us to showcase our hometown than by hosting the state’s tourism professionals.”

In addition to the Lieutenant Governor’s presentation, highlights of the conference program include an opening reception at Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center, a travel industry update from the Louisiana Office of Tourism, and the annual Louisiana Travel Fair Breakfast. 

To follow happenings at the 2012 Louisiana Tourism Industry Summit on Twitter, follow the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau at @sbctb or on Facebook by searching for “Shreveport-Bossier ~ Louisiana’s Other Side.”

NOTE TO MEDIA: For local media seeking to coordinate on-site interviews during the event, please contact Chris Jay at (318) 272-1696 (cell).

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“Haynesville” filmmaker Gregory Kallenberg will announces largest film contest of its kind at Jan. 26 event

SHREVEPORT, LA – One lucky filmmaker could receive the largest prize of its kind when a new short film contest launches in Shreveport on Jan. 26. “Haynesville” filmmaker Gregory Kallenberg will announce his new contest, the La. Film Prize Contest and Film Festival, at a press conference, 5 p.m., Jan. 26 at Robinson Film Center. The press conference will be followed by a celebration during “The Last Martini,” a film industry networking event, held 6 to 8 p.m. at Robinson Film Center.

The La. Film Prize Contest and Festival invites filmmakers from all over the world to create and present a short film under one condition – it must be shot in Shreveport-Bossier. The winner will receive a grand prize of $50,000.

Filmmakers will have five months, from February 1 to July 9, to produce their film. Each filmmaker will be provided with an ambassador and a team of volunteers, resources and aids to help them with production, housing, promotional events and other needs during their stay. 

The top 20 films will be selected to promote and screen their film during the La. Film Prize Festival weekend, Oct. 12-14. The winner will be chosen based on the votes of a panel of expert judges from all over the country, as well as the vote of the filmmaker’s audience. Finalists are encouraged to heavily promote their project and enlist turnout support from friends, family and the public to heighten their chances of winning.    

Organizers hope the La. Film Prize will further grow and transform Shreveport-Bossier’s creative community, alongside the existing efforts of organizations like Moonbot Studios, Gorilla Design Studio, CoHabitat, Robinson Film Center and artspace.

“Ever since I returned to my hometown, I’ve wanted to find a way to help spur the ongoing evolution of our town into a creative mecca and give our city a national brand as a home to the creative class,” Kallenberg said. “As SXSW transformed Austin, the La. Film Prize will do the same for our region.”
 
Contact Gregory Kallenberg 318-213-6437 or visit www.lafilmprize.com to enter and learn more information about the La. Film Prize Contest and Festival.

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Family-friendly selection of parties and parades welcomes visitors

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – With the 12th Night Celebration held on Saturday, Jan. 7, Shreveport-Bossier officially marked the beginning of Mardi Gras season in the region known as “Louisiana’s Other Side.” Now through Fat Tuesday, which falls on Tuesday, Feb. 21, visitors and locals alike can enjoy a diverse array of parties, parades, and special events. The major parade dates for 2012 are Feb. 11 (Krewe of Centaur) and Feb. 18 (Krewe of Gemini). Both major parades roll at 4 p.m., following a route that includes Clyde Fant Parkway along the Shreveport riverfront, Shreveport-Barksdale Highway, and East King’s Highway. According to a study prepared by the Center for Business and Economic Research at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, an estimated total of 400,000 parade viewers will attend these two parades, making Shreveport-Bossier’s Carnival season one of the largest in Louisiana.

In addition to the major evening parades, Shreveport-Bossier offers a number of unique Mardi Gras events ranging from neighborhood celebrations to smaller, themed parades. The Krewe of Barkus and Meoux, a pet parade featuring hundreds of pets and their owners dressed in Mardi Gras finery, will march through downtown Shreveport’s Riverview Park at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12. Known as “the animal krewe,” the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux often includes cats and dogs, as well as rabbits, ponies, chickens, and more.

The Krewe of Highland Parade, which rolls through Shreveport’s historic Highland neighborhood at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19, is known for being family-friendly (it occurs during daylight hours) and for its unique throws, which include items as unexpected as grilled hot dogs and SPAM sandwiches. The Krewe of Highland parade begins and ends at Byrd High School, 3201 Line Avenue in Shreveport, traveling a circular route through the Highland neighborhood.

The Krewe of Aesclepius Children’s Parade, a parade geared towards families and children, will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Pierre Bossier Mall, 2950 E. Texas Street in Bossier City. Shreveport-Bossier’s Mardi Gras festivities will officially come to a close at midnight on Fat Tuesday with the Krewe of Aesclepius Texas Street Bridge Closing Ceremony, as visitors and krewe royalty meet at the center of the Texas Street Bridge to bless the bridge and bring Mardi Gras 2012 to a close.

For a complete listing of all Mardi Gras events scheduled to take place in Shreveport-Bossier, including information on parade routes, visit www.shreveportbossierfunguide.com and click “Mardi Gras in the Ark-La-Tex.” To keep up with photos, video, and live reports from Mardi Gras in Shreveport-Bossier, follow the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau on Twitter at @sbctb. More information on things to see and do in Shreveport-Bossier can be found on-line at www.shreveport-bossier.org or by calling (888) 45-VISIT.       

NOTE TO MEDIA: High-quality, print-resolution images of Mardi Gras festivities in Shreveport-Bossier may be requested by contacting Chris Jay at cjay@sbctb.org or (318) 429-0658. Multimedia elements such as Youtube videos are also available.

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Two-day workshop will include classes taught by pro anglers, including three 2012 Bassmaster Classic competitors

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – The Bass University, a traveling bass fishing seminar founded and designed by professional anglers Pete Gluszek and Mike Iaconelli, will return to Shreveport-Bossier, Jan. 7-8, 2012. The event will be held at Shreveport Convention Center, located at 400 Caddo Street in downtown Shreveport. Classes will be held 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. Instructors appearing at the Shreveport-Bossier stop are Pete Gluszek, Fred Roumbanis, George Cochran, Ish Monroe, Brandon Palaniuk, and Scott Martin. Topics covered will include sonar and GPS, structure scanning, seasonal patterns, shallow water power fishing, and more. Instructors Roumbanis, Monroe, and Palaniuk will be returning to Shreveport-Bossier, Feb. 24-26, to compete against 46 other top anglers during the 2012 Bassmaster Classic. The Bass University last visited Shreveport-Bossier in 2011.

Enrollment fees for The Bass University are $199 for adults and $175 for students and youth 17 and under. In addition to exclusive, personal, and customized training, students will receive course literature, a tackle gift pack, and an official BU alumni t-shirt. For more information or to register on-line, visit www.thebassuniversity.com. Walk-up registrations will be accepted as space allows, 7-8 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 7. 

NOTE TO MEDIA: Bass University founder Pete Gluszek is available for interviews. To arrange an interview, contact Chris Jay at the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau by calling (318) 429-0658 or e-mailing cjay@sbctb.org.

The Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau is sponsoring a fun, festive and food-filled media tour during one of our most popular events – Mardi Gras. Shreveport-Bossier’s Mardi Gras celebration is the second-largest in Louisiana, led only by New Orleans.

We are currently organizing a group of qualified, fun-loving travel journalists to be a part of this four-day Mardi Gras Media FAM Tour. Participating travel writers will arrive on Friday, Feb. 17, 2012, and depart on Monday, Feb. 20, 2012. The tour will celebrate all of the revelry and excitement of an authentic Louisiana Mardi Gras while also highlighting some of the best restaurants, arts and culture, night life and, of course, the big personalities that make Shreveport-Bossier: Louisiana’s Other Side an unforgettable place to visit.

We’ll be attending two very different Mardi Gras parades: the fantastic Krewe of Gemini, one of the largest parades on Shreveport-Bossier’s Carnival schedule; and the funky and unusual Krewe of Highland parade, a neighborhood parade that rolls through Shreveport’s historic Highland neighborhood tossing throws as strange as grilled hot dogs and SPAM sandwiches.

We will cover the cost of transportation to and from Shreveport-Bossier and meals and accommodations during the media tour for all accepted journalists.

Interested? Just give us a call or sign up here. Complete the “Request a Tour” form – we’ll be in touch shortly thereafter!

Event will be held January 14 at Cutter Creek Outfitters in Frierson

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – Xtreme 3D Archery will host a “pop-up” 3D archery tournament on Saturday, Jan. 14 at Cutter Creek Outfitters in Frierson, Louisiana. The tournament will award medals for the top three places in each class. Entry fee is $20, which includes four rounds. Day-of-event registration will begin at 8 a.m. No registrations will be accepted after 1 p.m. on the day of the event. Participants should bring a minimum of five arrows. Day-of-event registration will begin at 8 a.m. No registrations will be accepted after 2 p.m. on the day of the event. Participants should bring a minimum of five arrows. For more information or to register on-line, visit www.xtreme3darchery.com.

Xtreme 3D Archery Tour events feature a computerized, pop-up motion target system designed to simulate real hunting situations. Xtreme 3D Archery provides motion target rentals, fundraising events, and pop-up 3D archery tournaments throughout East Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

January’s event will be held at Cutter Creek Outfitters, a new hog hunting ranch located in Frierson, Louisiana, 14 miles south of Shreveport. For more information on Cutter Creek Outfitters, visit www.cuttercreekoutfitters.com or call (318) 518-3558.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Xtreme 3D Archery Tour founder and organizer John Sarvis is available for interviews. To arrange an interview, please call (402) 881-6001.

25 year-old Andrew Upshaw of Hemphill, Texas will be competition’s first College B.A.S.S. Angler

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – The last time 25-year-old Andrew Upshaw of Hemphill, Texas was in Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana for the Bassmaster Classic, he was working a booth at the outdoor expo that takes place during the massive, three-day event. That was in 2009, and Upshaw and his fishing partner, Ryan Watkins, both students at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas, were well on their way to becoming one of the most accomplished collegiate fishing teams in the U.S. Three years and a national collegiate championship later, Upshaw is heading back to Shreveport-Bossier for the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, which will take place Feb. 24-26 on the Red River. This time around, he won’t be sneaking into parties to meet his favorite anglers; he’ll be competing against them as the first-ever College B.A.S.S. angler.

Upshaw says he’s not intimidated by the competition, though he’s excited to be sharing the water with anglers who he considers to be the best in the world.

“These guys are the best in the world for a reason,” Upshaw said. “But I really feel like I have a great chance to win it. That may sound crazy, but that’s how I approach every tournament: I go to win.” 

The Bassmaster Classic is a three-day event that has been called “the Super Bowl of professional bass fishing.” During the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, 49 anglers representing 22 states will compete for the sport’s largest prize: $500,000 and the title of Bassmaster Classic champion. In addition to exciting daily launches and weigh-ins, fans will be treated to a free outdoor expo sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods. The expo, which will be held at the Shreveport Convention Center, will feature over 150 vendors, giveaways by B.A.S.S.’s sponsors, fishing seminars, angler appearances, and more.   

For more information on the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, visit the official website at www.bassmaster.com/classic. For information on planning a visit to Shreveport-Bossier during the event, or to request a Visitor’s Guide to Shreveport-Bossier: Louisiana’s Other Side, visit www.shreveport-bossier.org/bassmaster-classic.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Andrew Upshaw is available for media interviews upon request. High-resolution promotional images of past Bassmaster Classic events are also available upon request. For more information, contact Chris Jay at cjay@sbctb.org or (318) 429-0658.

Tickets now available for match-up slated for December 26

Shreveport-Bossier, LA – Shreveport-Bossier, the region of northwest Louisiana known as “Louisiana’s Other Side,” will proudly welcome the Big 12’s University of Missouri Tigers and the ACC’s University of North Carolina Tar Heels as the teams face off in the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl. This year’s game will kick-off at 4 p.m. (CST), Monday, Dec. 26, at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2. Tickets are now on sale at www.independencebowl.org. Hotel rooms in Shreveport-Bossier City may be booked online at www.shreveport-bossier.org. This year will mark the third Independence Bowl appearance made by the Tigers and the first by the Tar Heels. The two teams last faced one another 35 years ago.
  
While here, fans can enjoy a host of I-Bowl related events and activities for the whole family, including a Kids’ Day Out on Saturday, Dec. 24, along with the MetroPCS Fan Fest, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on game day, and the AT&T Parade and Pep Rally, beginning at 1:30 p.m. on game day.

Visitors to Shreveport-Bossier also are invited to enjoy the southern hospitality, Cajun food, and many exciting things to see and do. Some must-sees while in the sister cities include:

•    Great shopping, riverfront dining, and entertainment at the Louisiana Boardwalk
•    Hands-on exhibits and IMAX Theater at Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center
•    Dinner and a movie under one roof at Robinson Film Center
•    New! Fantastic Mr. Fox interactive puppet theater exhibit at Artspace
•    Gaming at five area riverfront casinos and horseracing track

For a complete list of upcoming events and entertainment taking place in Shreveport-Bossier, visit www.shreveportbossierfunguide.com.

Detailed game information can be found by visiting www.independencebowl.org. Special group packages are available for the 2011 AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl. Ticket package options include a Family Fun Pack for four presented by Johnny's Catfish - (4) End Zone tickets, (4) hot dogs, (4) soft drinks, (1) Blue Lot Parking Pass and a Johnny's Catfish Family Pack all for $175. Regular tickets range in price from $37 to $160. Additional ticket information may be obtained by calling 318-221-0712 or 888-414-BOWL.

For a complete list of Shreveport-Bossier’s hotels, restaurants, casinos, museums and galleries, and more, visit www.shreveport-bossier.org or call 800-551-8682. 

NOTE TO MEDIA: High-quality still images as well as high-definition video of Shreveport-Bossier are available for media use. To request images or video, please call Chris Jay at (318) 429-0658 or e-mail cjay@sbctb.org.

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Free festival will be held Saturday, Nov. 19 in Columbia Park 

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – The 2011 Highland Jazz and Blues Festival, presented by MetroPCS, will take place 12 p.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 19 at Columbia Park in Shreveport’s historic Highland neighborhood. The annual festival, which features two stages of non-stop live music, food vendors, and an Artist’s Alley, is free to attend. Preservation Hall Jazz Band, a critically-acclaimed Dixieland Jazz collective from New Orleans, will headline a roster of blues and jazz performers including Buddy Flett, Wes Jeans, Jazziana, David Egan, Fannin Street Players with Danny Wilder, Stiff Necked Fools, Soul Fish, Jimmy Wooten Trio, and more. Columbia Park is located at 700 Columbia Street in Shreveport.

In addition to live music, the festival is known for attracting an uncommon variety of food vendors. Offerings include Cajun jambalaya, Caribbean jerk chicken, locally-roasted gourmet coffees, and more. Artist’s Alley will feature local artists and artisans selling items including hand-made jewelry and original works of art, jams and jellies, and home décor.  

Now in its eighth year, the Highland Jazz and Blues Festival is supported by the City of Shreveport and the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. The Highland Jazz & Blues Festival is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit arts organization, dedicated to being a positive force in the growth of Shreveport's historic Highland neighborhood. For more information, visit www.highlandjazzandblues.org or search for Highland Jazz and Blues Festival on Facebook.        
                                                                    
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Ultimate professional fishing competition set for Feb. 24-26 

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – The Bassmaster Classic returns to the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier, Feb. 24-26, 2012. This event, billed as “the Super Bowl of bass fishing,” will be one of the largest sporting events ever held in the region. The 2009 Bassmaster Classic shattered all previous attendance records, attracting more than 137,000 fans to the Red River, CenturyLink Center, and the Shreveport Convention Center. The 2012 event promises to be even bigger and better.

The Bassmaster Classic is the ultimate competition in professional bass fishing. This spectacular three-day event - complete with a theatrical presentation of the weigh-ins and hours of television coverage - delights fans of all ages. The Red River South Marina will be the official launch site. The CenturyLink Center will be the weigh-in site, as well as the official broadcast site. The 2012 Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo, featuring more than 150 vendors, will be held at the Shreveport Convention Center.

The event takes place the weekend following one of Shreveport-Bossier's major Mardi Gras parades. Visit the official website of the 2012 Bassmaster Classic at www.bassmaster.com/classic. For a directory of local resources, including maps to key Bassmaster Classic locations and more, visit www.bassmasterclassic2012.com.   

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